PHOTO GALLERY: NATRE kicks off in New Orleans

Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Mike Bahm of Hunter Engineering (right) explains a Hunter tire balancing machine to Kevin Green of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Tire Business photo by Sarah Arnold
Joseph Saoud, president, TBR and Retread, Bridgestone Americas, cuts a birthday cake to help celebrate Bandag brand's 60th anniversary.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Joseph Saoud cuts the cake served in honor of Bandag's 60th anniversary.
Tire Business photo by Sarah Arnold
Cake was served in recognition of Bandag brand's 60th anniversary.
Tire Business photo by Sarah Arnold
Tire Business Publisher Dave Zielasko (right) thanks Joseph Saoud, president, TBR and Retread, Bridgestone Americas, for his keynote speech during NATRE 2017. Following the speech, the group celebrated Bandag's 60th anniversary with cake.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Mike Hudgins, director of sales, Mighty Auto Parts, speaks during the first day of NATRE.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Ask Patty.com CEO Jody DeVere was among the speakers during the first day of NATRE in New Orleans.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Helping to cut the ribbon and open the NATRE expo is (from left) Marco Zigni, Latin Expo Group; Gus Lima, CEO, NATRE; Joseph Saoud, president, TBR & Retread, Bridgestone Americas; and Tire Business Publisher Dave Zielasko.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Cutting the ribbon to open the NATRE event is (from left) Marco Zigni, Latin Expo Group; Gus Lima, CEO, NATRE; Joseph Saoud, president, TBR & Retread, Bridgestone Americas; and Dave Zielasko, VP/Publisher of Tire Business.
Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis
Bill Sweatman (left), Marangoni North America, and Joseph Saoud, Bridgestone Amercas, sharing observations on the state of retreading.

NEW ORLEANS—The North American Tire & Retread Expo kicked off April 19 at the Ernest Morial Convention Center with true New Orleans flavor.

Guests attending the expo on the first day were treated to the sounds of a brass band and could indulge in a sweet slice of cake, served in honor of Bridgestone's Bandag brand's 60th anniversary.

Prior to the expo's opening, guests heard from industry leaders including Joseph Saoud, president of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations' truck, bus and retread tire operations, who presented the event's keynote speech. In doing so, he provided insight into the changing commercial tire landscape.

Other speakers on the schedule April 19 were Ask Patty.com CEO Jody DeVere; Paul Dvorak, CEO, America Industrial Tire Corp.; Mike Hudgins, director of sales, Mighty Auto Parts; and Alexei Nicolini, president & CEO, Budini Inc.

The evening concluded with a networking party at B.B. King's Blues Club in New Orleans.

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